Lyon, who beat Nice 2-1 on Saturday, enjoy a 14-point lead
over second-placed Girondins Bordeaux with five games remaining
and have a much better goal difference.

They need just two points to be sure of beating St Etienne
and Olympique Marseille's record of four successive Ligue 1
titles.

Lyon have led the standings since a 2-0 win at AJ Auxerre on
Aug. 28 and can be crowned next Saturday even before playing
Paris St Germain at the Parc des Princes.

Should Bordeaux, who were held to a goalless draw by St
Etienne on Saturday, fail to win at Lille in an early kickoff
Lyon will be champions.

'I think that psychologically we have won the title,' said
Houllier. 'It was a very important victory against Nice,
especially after what happened in Milan.'

Lyon were knocked out of the Champions League quarter-finals
after losing 3-1 at AC Milan on Tuesday.

Club chairman Jean-Michel Aulas cautioned after Saturday's
win over Nice: 'It's true that we took a huge step towards the
title but in Milan we were qualified on 88 minutes and two
minutes later, we were eliminated.'